New Vauxhall Adam For Sale

When we say that the new Vauxhall ADAM is a car that you can make your own, we really mean it. This model is by far one of the most customisable, with millions of possible colour, style and accessory combinations.

Exterior

On the new Vauxhall Adam Although the finished look of the car is completely up to you, the silhouette and shape are always recognisable. With a total wheelbase of just under four metres, it's the shortest and most compact model in the range. Slim black pillars hold up the clever 'floating' roof, adding to the overall quirkiness and attractiveness of the car in a fresh and innovative way. Much of the rest is down to your preferences, including the alloy wheel size and design, body colour, roof, headlining and optional parts.

Interior

On the inside, it's hard to believe that the ADAM could look so streamlined. The cabin's comfortable and spacious enough for everything you need and a full complement of passengers. High-density foam has been used to mould the seats and make them both comfortable and supportive, and you can customise the dashboard to match your driving style. At higher specifications, the technology level is truly impressive: Siri Eyes Free voice control, Intellilink touchscreen infotainment and hands-free Bluetooth® could all be at your disposal.

Performance

The car's quirky appearance is complemented by the enthusiasm from the petrol engine, which is offered at a range of bhp levels depending on the trim level you choose. The 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre capacity engines produce a maximum of 130Nm of torque and 86bhp, with other versions not far behind. Each of them pairs up with a standard five-speed manual gearbox, and independent front and rear suspension systems keep your balance and handling in check. If that isn't enough, economy is high across the range at around 62.8mpg combined thanks to ecoFLEX and start/stop fuel-saving technologies.

Safety

You'd also expect passenger protection to be just as strong, and the model doesn't disappoint. A look at the specification list shows exactly how the car secured a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, including ESP-plus, ABS and no less than six airbags. Additional Cornering Brake Control supplements the diagonal-split braking system, and Straight Line Stability is a new feature that prevents you drifting from your lane.

Contact Lookers Vauxhall today

With around 30,000 exterior and interior personalisation options, it is not hard to see why the Adam is one of Vauxhall's best selling models. Get in touch with yournearest Lookers Vauxhall dealership to find out more.

Customer Reviews

What Car? says

Read the full review from What Car?. Full Review includes Performance, Ride & Handing, Quality & Reliability, Space & Practicality & much more.

WhatCar? Review

For Unparalleled personalisation options make owning a unique car a genuine possibility. The Adam also has a smart cabin and all versions are well equipped.

Against The ride is too firm on the versions we’ve tried and, Grand Slam model apart, the handling isn’t assured enough at speed. The Adam isn’t that cheap, either, and there’s very little space in the back seats and in the boot.

Summary The Vauxhall Adam has bags of style and luxury equipment, and a classy cabin. Most of the versions we’ve driven are too uncomfortable to recommend, however.

On The Road

Performance Review

Engines range from a 1.2-litre petrol with 68bhp to a 148bhp 1.4 turbo in the Grand Slam version. The turbocharged 1.4 is pretty punchy, although it does its best work at medium and high revs. The 86bhp non-turbo 1.4 is flexible enough at low revs and fairly sprightly when you work it hard.

Ride And Handling Review

All the versions we've tried have had large wheels and sports suspension. The firm setup helps keep the Adam upright through corners, but the back end feels disconcertingly unsettled if you enter a corner too fast. The ride is also unsettled; it fidgets over scruffy surfaces and thumps over potholes. The steering is responsive at low speeds, but doesn’t weight up enough when you’re going faster.

Refinement Review

The 86bhp 1.4-litre engine is relatively hushed around town, but it bellows away noisily at 70mph due to the gearbox’s low ratios and the absence of a sixth gear. There’s plenty of suspension noise, too. The Grand Slam version has a sixth gear, so its engine isn’t revving as highly on the motorway. Road noise and wind noise are audible, but rarely problematic.

Ownership

Buying And Owning Review

The Adam is cheaper than an entry-level Mini or Citroen DS3, and costs around the same as its biggest rival, the Fiat 500. Resale values are generally weaker than those of its major competitors, though, so it’s not such a sound long-term investment. Fuel consumption is nothing special by class standards, either, although an optional engine stop-start system does help to cut CO2 emissions.

Quality And Reliability Review

The Adam’s cabin looks and feels great, with high-quality materials on the dashboard and slick switches. The panels lower down aren’t quite so lustrous, but they don’t ruin the effect. Reliability is more of a concern, because the Adam borrows most of its oily bits from the Vauxhall Corsa – a car that was rated below par for mechanical reliability in the most recent JD Power survey. As a brand, Vauxhall’s reliability record is pretty iffy.

Safety And Security

All Adams come with stability control and six airbags; two in the front, two at the side and a pair of curtain ‘bags. The Adam scored four out of five in its Euro NCAP crash test rating, too. Security experts Thatcham awarded the car four out of five for its resistance to being stolen, and three out of five for its resistance to being broken into.

In The Cabin

Behind The Wheel Review

The driving position is sound, with plenty of adjustment for the driver’s seat. The dashboard layout is reasonably intuitive, too, and there’s a user-friendly touch-screen infotainment system available as a reasonably priced option. However, over-the-shoulder visibility is severely hampered due to the Adam’s thick rear pillars.

Space And Practicality Review

No one buys a city car expecting to find sprawling space inside, but the Adam is tighter than most. It’s fine up front, but the rear seats are so cramped for head- and legroom that adults might struggle to fit at all. The boot is smaller than those of most city car rivals, too.

Equipment Review

All Adams come with air-con, alloys, Bluetooth and a DAB radio as standard, but it’s the extent to which the car can be accessorised that is its stand out feature. Five trim levels (Jam, Glam, Slam, Rocks Air and Grand Slam), 12 exterior colours, three roof colours, three decal packs, 20 wheel size and colour options, three interior roof linings (including one with 60 LEDs to look like the night sky) and many other interior options provide some idea of the personalisation possibilities.

Lookers Birmingham Limited (FRN: 403860), MB South Limited (FRN: 461719) and The Dutton-Forshaw Motor Company Limited (FRN: 474287) are appointed representatives of Lookers Motor Group Limited (FRN: 309424) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance mediation activities only.